Next Equipment Purchase?

[angel eyes]

Hello, I am more or less new, even more so to the ham world. It has been a while since I posted. I had gotten a Yaesu FT101 and was just trying to receive, which I was successful in doing. I have been busy since then and relocated to TX, so my time has been very limited.

Recently broke out the radio again and did some more listening for fun. I've been running dipole antennas (cheap, low key, and portable) and can get 10 meter, 20 meter, 40, and lots of 80 as well.

I got a couple bucks and am wondering what piece of equipment would improve my receiving abilities the most? Is an Antenna tuner a wise investment, or is there something else I should consider first?

I'm sorry I'm such a total newb to ham radio, but such is life. I figure once I get the basic Yaesu rig down I will get some UHF and VHF equipment. I just want to improve on what I have and go from there. Many thanks.

 

[trucker]

Well, an antenna tuner is a good thing to have if you are limited to only one dipole antenna. But, a good SWR meter and/or Antenna Analyzer would be better. That way, you can put up resonate dipole antennas (like a fan dipole for several bands) without the need of an antenna tuner. A fan dipole consists of several dipole antennas all connected to the same feedpoint. Having an antenna analyzer makes adjusting the legs of each dipole much easier. It can be done with just an SWR meter, but, it is a PIA.
The main thing is to get an antenna up that is resonant for the band you intend to use. And in some cases, you can put up one antenna for the lowest band you want to use, such as 75 meters and it will be resonate on other bands as well. Like 80,40, and 20 meters. Be sure to make a choke balun for the feedpoint on that type of dipole and you'll be good to go. (after a bit of trial and error tuning the antenna to resonance at it's lowest frequency of operation) Then, get on the air!! Make some contacts and have some fun. Amateur radio can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.
It doesn't take a lot to have an effective station that you can enjoy.
Good luck and welcome to Amateur Radio!
Trucker

 

[bamacj]

How about a little more information, what lic. do you have?
Antenna limitations such as appartments or rental agreements?
What are your goals?
Are you in the city or country, general location.

The more information you give us the more we can help.

 

[Moleculo]

You said you have a "couple bucks" to spend...what is your budget?

What type of rig are you running now?

 

[n0zna]

The Yeasue 101 is a great radio,get a balum and cut wires to match the freqs that you want....a balum goes for around $20 at ase or hro or r and l ....and go to home depo or lowes and get your wire...many places on the internet will tell you how long to cut the wire...i have a balum with 124 ft of wire and my ft450d will tune it from 6mtrs to 160mtrs...73s hope this will help...de JW

 

[angel eyes]

How about a little more information, what lic. do you have?
Antenna limitations such as appartments or rental agreements?
What are your goals?
Are you in the city or country, general location.

No license as of yet, just a lurker. I have been so busy relocating from FL to Austin TX area I haven't had time to invest yet into getting the license. I had studied quite a bit for the Technician but moved before I got around to taking the exam. I intend on getting all three as soon as humanly possible. I started posting cause I am just now settling in and have employment and such and finally dug out the radio the other night for the first time in six months.

No antenna limitations that I'm aware of. Portable is good, I move frequently, at least 10x over the last ten years.

Goals? I like to hear international comms and foreign radio and such. I'm guessing a lot of 20m and 40m? Eventually do some international myself, just still getting the hang of how things work and putting a setup together. Not sure what "5-9" and "7-3" or any of the lingo means yet, that's why I'm here I guess. Complete noob, so don't be too rough on me lol. Me and my 8 year old son are both intrigued by radio though....

I have an Yaesu 101EX model with 10a, 10b, 15, 20, 40, and 80 meter bands. I was listening to people from Germany, Mexico City, Spain, Valdosta Georgia, Columbia S.A., St. Lucia, and a bunch of other places this evening using a 10m dipole strung from the side of the house and nothing else on the 20m band. It seemed exceptional this evening though or maybe I found a sweet spot, I dunno. Most of this is over my head at the moment.

I am in a rural location, but I still have neighbors next door, my property is about 1/3 of an acre.

You said you have a "couple bucks" to spend...what is your budget?

I scrounge a hundred bucks here and there. No real budget, just put money together until I get what I need or want, which I don't really know what that is at this point. I am kind of drawn to boat anchor stuff though, big knobs and simplicity, as long as it works well.

I don't know what "baluns" really do, what a "choke balun" is, how an SWR meter or any of that stuff works. Just trying to get some knowledge here.....

 

[bamacj]

Ok, since you will be in recieve mode til you get your ticket I wouldnt get to critical on antennas. A fan dipole with legs cut for 10,20, and 80 would get you started and maxamize your recieving on all bands.

If you are going to use this radio on 11, I would suggest a good swr/watt meter. And then get a decent vertical for 11. Antron or Maco v58 comes to mind.

I wouldnt worry about tuning the dipole, just cut it close to the formula and it should do fine for recieve purposes. When you get your ticket then you can worry about the dipole more. A fan dipole can be tuned to work without a tuner so at this time I think a tuner is a wast of funds.

If you are indeed going to get your ticket, my suggestion on the next purchase would be a full puwer vhf or dual band mobile rig. Dont forget a decent dual band antenna also with good coax.

Try to locate a local ham club and join up. they will probably be willing to help guide you in getting started.

 

[wavrider]

Most of the questions you are asking will be covered in the General study guide or question pool.

Google is your friend to understand Baluns, antenna theory, transmission lines (coax).

On the older boat anchors or hybrid rigs, they are fun to use, but can get expensive quickly if need repaired .

A solid state full HF rig is only a few dollars more and well worth it in reliability and dependability.

As of now you are basically SWL Short wave listening, good way to learn the lingo per say.

Oh the 5-9 or 3-5 stuff will also be covered when you study for the license.

For receive a fan dipole or multi band dipole is not really necessary.

Get about 35 feet of wire on each leg, 70 feet total. Split your coax and connect one 35' leg to the center conductor, the other 35' leg to the shield, weather proof it and put it up as high in the air as you can safely.

That will give you decent coverage from 40 meters up for listening, lower gain on 80 meters so less noise but will still be able to receive signals.

Worry about resonant antennas after you get your license to transmit.

I would not recommend running out and buying any equipment right now until you become familiar with what type of operations you want to do.

If long distance DX is your interest a dual mode mobile will not be what you want.

Enjoy the SWL, continue study for the license, and most of all. Enjoy the hobby it is supposed to be fun.